(Fraser is on record as having stated, a few years before his death, that he regarded the ACW as a rubbish war; and that he wasn't, and never had been, planning to write a full novel about Flashman's doings in same. This caused a certain amount of ill-feeling on the part of some folk, who considered that the author was indicating thus, a degree of contempt for his devoted fans -- many of whom, in the light of the "hints and crumbs dropped" throughout the series, were yearning for the full Civil War tome.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by EbbwJunction1

I'm one of the ones who wished that he'd written a ACW episode, but it was not to be - unless there's a manuscript floating around somewhere!

I find myself concurring that if he had truly never meant to write a full ACW book; then his dropping the numerous fascinating and tantalising brief hints in other novels, was a bit cruel. Perhaps he was consciously trying to imitate his creation, in behaviour...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowler9

A town to the north end of a north western city in the UK's commuter belt shares its name with a town at the north end of a Queensland cities commuter belt. What is the seemingly inappropriate name.

I find myself concurring that if he had truly never meant to write a full ACW book; then his dropping the numerous fascinating and tantalising brief hints in other novels, was a bit cruel. Perhaps he was consciously trying to imitate his creation, in behaviour...

Southport is correct. Right up at the north end of Liverpools kind of urban area and also up at the north end of Gold Coast (Not as far north in the area as Southport in the UK is). Am sure the names stem back from times when they weren't part of a larger urban area. Your floor.

The town of Valmiera in Latvia has a connection with which transport journalist ?

Bonus points for explaining the connection

Christian Wolmar -- author of Blood, Iron & Gold and sundry other works? "Wolmar" is the German form of the name Valmiera: Germans played a big part in that part of the world, for centuries. The author's parents were from "thereabouts", though not actually from Latvia.

Its name -- depending on which source one prefers -- either means in a Native American language, "the sun coming down from the mountains"; or it has no meaning at all in any language: was dreamt up out of thin air -- just thought to sound good -- by the long-ago promoter of the area as a territory of the USA; which chap proceeded accordingly, to "sell" the name.

Its name -- depending on which source one prefers -- either means in a Native American language, "the sun coming down from the mountains"; or it has no meaning at all in any language: was dreamt up out of thin air -- just thought to sound good -- by the long-ago promoter of the area as a territory of the USA; which chap proceeded accordingly, to "sell" the name.